18 Great Cake Recipes

James Carrier

Toffee Crunch Cake

Fold toffee candy into caramel crème fraîche to fill this chocolate cake. Frost the outside of the cake with more caramel crème fraîche and sprinkle it with almonds.

Recipe: Toffee Crunch Cake

Annabelle Breakey

Chocolate Peanut Butter Cake

An homage to the Reese's Peanut Butter Cup, this cake is for the true peanut butter and chocolate lover.

Recipe: Chocolate Peanut Butter Cake

Annabelle Breakey

Lemon Meringue Cake

Our butter cake meets classic lemon meringue pie. We used a loaf pan to change the shape of the cake ― a simple twist that dramatically alters the presentation.

Recipe: Lemon Meringue Cake

Annabelle Breakey

Strawberry Tallcake

We created this elegant, elongated version of strawberry shortcake by stacking cake layers with berries and whipped cream.

Recipe: Strawberry Tallcake

Iain Bagwell

Glazed Chocolate Bundt Cake

This moist cake studded with gooey chocolate chips is made even more delicious with a creamy, bourbon-laced glaze.

View recipe: Glazed Chocolate Bundt Cake

James Carrier

Berry-Lemon Cake

Berry jam and lemon curd fill this easy butter cake. Lemony-sweet whipped cream is the icing.

Recipe: Berry-Lemon Cake

Annabelle Breakey

Fudge Butter Cake

A classic birthday cake, with a tender crumb and a luscious fudge frosting. All you need are candles.

Recipe: Fudge Butter Cake

Coconut Cake

Frost this 4-layer yellow cake with whipped cream, sweetened shredded coconut, and just a touch of light rum.

Recipe: Coconut Cake

James Carrier

Pistachio Cream Cake

This cardamom-perfumed pistachio layer cake is topped with nuts, wrapped and filled with softly whipped cream, and served with a sesame seed-flavored custard sauce.

Recipe: Pistachio Cream Cake

James Carrier

Midnight chocolate cake

This lightened up version of chocolate cake, is still as delicious treat as the original.

View recipe: Midnight chocolate cake

James Carrier

Almond-Apricot Cake

Apricot jam and almond paste makes this basic butter cake worthy of its pedestal. More jam flavors the buttercream frosting, and sliced almonds add crunch.

Recipe: Almond-Apricot Cake

James Carrier

Chocolate-raspberry Cake

This 4-layer chocolate raspberry cake features a tangy raspberry filling and a rich foolproof buttercream icing. Top it with fresh raspberries for a simple and elegant presentation.

Recipe: Chocolate-raspberry Cake

James Carrier

Maple Pecan Cake

Pecan flour adds a deep flavor and subtle texture to this chiffon-style cake. Top it with Maple-cream-cheese frosting and toasted nuts.

Recipe: Maple Pecan Cake

Christina Schmidhofer

Cream Cake with Strawberries

What a great use for the season's best berries. Toss them in sugar and spoon onto this extra-moist cake.

Recipe: Cream Cake with Strawberries

Annabelle Breakey

Spice Cake with Coffee Toffee Crunch

This towering cake, garnished with chunks of coffee-flavored toffee, makes a luscious centerpiece for the holiday dessert table.

Recipe: Spice Cake with Coffee Toffee Crunch

Photography by Leo Gong; styling by Karen Shinto

Tres Leches Cake with Raspberries

We love this cake from Doña Tomás restaurant in Oakland, California; it's rich with a sauce like dulce de leche.

Recipe: Tres Leches Cake with Raspberries

Sheri Giblin

Blueberry Yogurt Cake

Yogurt gives this moist cake recipe extra tang, blueberries add bright color and summer sweetness, and a nutty streusel topping finishes off this simple recipe.

Recipe: Blueberry Yogurt Cake

Photo by Leo Gong

Spiced Apple Carrot Cake with Goat Cheese Frosting

Tart, grated apples give this moist carrot cake a delicious twist. Mild goat cheese adds a tang to the cream cheese frosting.

Recipe: Spiced Apple Carrot Cake with Goat Cheese Frosting

18 special-occasion cakes

Toffee Crunch Cake

Chocolate Peanut Butter Cake

Lemon Meringue Cake

Strawberry Tallcake

Glazed Chocolate Bundt Cake

Berry-Lemon Cake

Fudge Butter Cake

Coconut Cake

Pistachio Cream Cake

Midnight chocolate cake

Almond-Apricot Cake

Chocolate-raspberry Cake

Maple Pecan Cake

Cream Cake with Strawberries

Spice Cake with Coffee Toffee Crunch

Tres Leches Cake with Raspberries

Blueberry Yogurt Cake

Spiced Apple Carrot Cake with Goat Cheese Frosting